How often do you guys update you websites?

[J Phipps TN]

There are several of you that have web pages. I visit a few just to see if anything is new or if anything interesting on your calendars.

The one thing that I have noticed is the number of framing web sites that have not changed in the past 2 or even three years.

Do you still get new hits on there and how often do you change it or is there really any reason to?

I am still in the waiting stage of getting a web page and as I wait I thought I would gather as much information as possible.

So back to the original question, how often do you up date your web page?

 

[John Ranes II CPF GCF]

It just makes sense...

Jennifer,

You'll want to update your website content on a realistic and regular basis, not only to keep things interesting for your visiting customers, but also for the Search Engines. When they revisit, they respond postively to sites where content has changed since the last visit. They recognize that someone is "minding the shop".

To answer your question more specifically, I probably make a changes/additions/deletions somewhere on our website almost weekly, and updates to major category pages at least once every six months. Even tweaking the meta information will pay dividends.

Making a website do well on the SERPs is not a "develop it and leave it" sort of thing. I have a competitor in town who's coming events on his website announces an artist function coming up in June.....

.... 2001

For most framer's, updating something bi-monthly or quarterly would probably be a good rule of thumb.

John

 

[Paul N]

Jennifer:

As John said, updating is quite important.

Sometimes I update internally (not visible to viewers on the main page), just so the search engines know this web site is still alive and include it in their search.

Funny, we were just discussing this in chat-room today!

 

[Bob Doyle]

John, I clicked on the link you posted, and their webmaster's web site has BETA on it!

Just goes to show you Jennifer that updating is VERY important if you are to be taken seriously.

 

[Cliff Wilson]

I went a while without doing much to my site. I was still getting positive comments and my "useful" visitors remained pretty constant.

I just finished some "major" work on my site and am waiting to see what effect it has. I have some more pages to add, but I think I'll run with this general feel and structure for some time.

Having things outdated and/or wrong could be disastrous, but I think it's OK not to "compete" with John for search engine position. If you're intending to have a shopping cart, online purchase, or other geographic independent function, then it matters a LOT!!!!

But, if your like most of us, you just need to be on the first page when someone local to you is looking for a framer.

Not to be sacrilegious, but I think quarterly is almost overkill frequency! (Of course, it wouldn't hurt especially if you have "events" at your shop.)

P.S. If any of you find broken links or spelling mistakes, etc. in my site, I'd appreciate the heads up.

 

[John Ranes II CPF GCF]

Search Engines LIKE change and fresh content

...Having things outdated and/or wrong could be disastrous, but I think it's OK not to "compete" with John for search engine position. If you're intending to have a shopping cart, online purchase, or other geographic independent function, then it matters a LOT!!!!....

Cliff,

Even if your website is functioning as a billboard in cyberspace to draw in potential customers, or a newsletter tool, it is still important to add fresh and changing information in the eyes of the Search Engine robots.

You don't have to have a full blown shopping cart for this to be important. For example, let's say that you create a newsletter article for a key artist that is having an appearance at your gallery, or you create a article on shadowbox techniques for sports memorabilia. If you optimize each page specifically to that specific content, you've created a page that might show up in a person's keyword searches for that information.

Each page on your website is a unique opportunity to draw a visitor to your website, and in the long haul a customer to your shop.

If you place newsletters on your website, archive them within the website, so that they are always available somehow.

John